UFC return?
Former two-time Professional Fighters League (PFL) champion Larissa Pacheco made a statement in her Karate Combat debut, stopping 22-year-old Julia Stasiuk in violent fashion on Saturday night (May 2, 2026) at Karate Combat 61 in Miami, Florida.
Pacheco wasted no time imposing her will.
She marched Stasiuk down from the opening bell, snapping off straight rights while the Polish prospect circled and threw spinning attacks in return. Late in the round, Pacheco cracked Stasiuk with a heavy
overhand right that visibly rattled her — momentarily turning away as if she was done — but the referee let the action continue.
Seconds later, Pacheco made sure there was no doubt.
She unleashed a crushing tomahawk elbow that floored Stasiuk before swarming with ground-and-pound to secure the first-round stoppage. It was a brutal finish — and one that arguably could’ve been waved off earlier.
Check out the finish below:
The performance marked Pacheco’s first fight in 18 months, dating back to her loss to Cris Cyborg, and her first appearance at Bantamweight since 2015. After years competing at Featherweight and Lightweight, even making 135 pounds again was something she didn’t think was possible — yet she passed the test emphatically.
Now 31, Pacheco finds herself in an interesting spot. She holds a win over current UFC champion Kayla Harrison, making her a compelling option if the promotion ever considers bringing her back.
Pacheco previously competed in the UFC from 2014 to 2015, going 0-2 before reinventing herself in the PFL, where she went 12-3 and captured titles in two divisions.
Time will tell if the UFC comes calling again (they should).
